Adjustable metal wall base



ADJUSTABLE METAL WALL BASE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 1 p9 2. 1 'W///////////7 /'777/ 777 I ATTORNEY Patented June 24, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0'. G. 757) 2 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon in accordance with the provisions of the act of April 30, 1928 (ch. 460, 45 Stat. L. 467).

In modern mass building construction floors poured with concrete or formed of wood or other material laid on joist out within commercial tolerances are not plane surfaces, but contain waves frequently exceeding one-quarter inch to which the rigid wall base will not conform. It is the object of my invention to provide at the bottom of such rigid wall base a strip of malleable metal which, after being attached to the rigid base by nails, screws, rivets, welding, or brazing or insertion into a preformed groove, is pressed into close contact with the floor. The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein l designates the floor having an irregular space 2 between it and the rigid wall base 3, the juncture being covered by my adjustable metal wall base strip 4 consisting of a trim member substantially concave in cross section and formed from a strip of malleable metal such as lead, aluminum, zinc, soft copper or the like, having an elastic limit below the limit of manual pressure so that when the lower portion of the strip is pressed into sanitary and sightly contact with the floor it will remain in such contact without being fastened to the floor at places other than the ends of the strip.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation.

Figure 2 is a view in plan wherein the interior and exterior angles are cut and formed at the time of installation, and

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate two methods of attachment of the adjustable strip 4 to the base 3,

one by crimped insert into a preformed groove in the rigid base, and the other by nails, the dotted lines indicating the contour of the strip prior to being bent into contact with the floor by pressure of a round nose tool such as the handle of a trowel or during periods when the floor is undergoing repair after which it is again pressed back into contact with the floor.

What I claim is:

l. A visible trim member for the irregular joint between a rigid wall base and the adjacent floor of building interiors, comprising a strip of malleable metal substantially concave in cross section one edge being adapted to be fastened to the rigid wall base and parallel therewith and the other edge having an elastic limit below the limit of manual pressure whereby that portion may be manually bent into uniform contact with and remain in such contact with the floor throughout its length without fastening at points other than at the ends of said strip, thereby sealing the irregular joint between the rigid wall base and the floor against dirt and vermin.

2. In building construction the combination of an uneven floor, a wall base positioned adjacent said floor and a visible trim member for the irregular joint between said wall base and said floor, said trim member comprising a strip of malleable metal substantially concave in cross section, one edge secured to the rigid wall base and parallel therewith and the other edge having an elastic limit below the limit of manual pressure and bent into uniform contact with and remaining in such contact with the floor without fastening at points other than at the ends of said strip.

OSCAR VATET. 

